Cheer Fund: Funding in place for new, permanent home

The Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund is announcing that it has secured funding for a new permanent home at the airport.

They say community grants are making the move possible.

Firefighters have been planning for the facility for several years. It will be built beside the fire department’s new training facility on Verhulst Street.

For the past seven years, the Cheer Fund has operated out of the basement of the United Way building on 13th Street and previously was hosted at several sites around the community. The new permanent headquarters will be the site for collecting, sorting, packing, and distributing of toys for kids at Christmas time.

The Cheer Fund is Bartholomew County’s longest operating charity. Organizers announced the new home on Saturday.

Organizers praised the efforts of the current city administration, the Columbus Fire Department, Columbus Municipal Airport, Columbus City Garage and the city’s Department of Public Works on making the move possible.